Ensai - Ensai

Japanese: 円載 - えんさい

Year of death: Gangyo 1 (877)
Year of birth: unknown. A Tendai Buddhist monk from the early Heian period. A native of Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture). A disciple of Saicho. In 838 (Jowa 5), Enzai traveled to Tang China, where he presented questions about Tendai Buddhist doctrine to the learned monks of Mount Tiantai, and sent them back to Japan after receiving their answers (Tang Debate, Volume 1). He was treated well by Emperor Xuanzong, lived at Saimyoji Temple, and was awarded a purple robe. He applied to the Japanese court for a postponement of his studies in Tang China, which was granted, and he was given gold. Later, in 855 (Saiko 2), he and Enchin received the initiation ceremony from Hozen of Seiryu-ji Temple. In 877 (Gangyo 1), on the way back to Japan, their ship was wrecked in a storm and he drowned. Enzai spent nearly 40 years in Tang China, and during this time he looked after monks studying abroad from Japan, but he is said to have often broken the precepts and committed evil acts.

(Hongo Masatoshi)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：元慶1(877)
生年：生年不詳
平安前期の天台宗の僧。大和国(奈良県)の人。最澄の弟子。承和5(838)年唐に渡り,天台宗の教義に関する疑義を天台山の学僧に呈し,解答を受けて日本に送った(『唐決』1巻)。皇帝宣宗の厚遇を受け,西明寺に住し,また紫袍を賜った。日本の朝廷に在唐留学の延期を申請して許可され,黄金を給された。その後,斉衡2(855)年には,円珍と共に青竜寺の法全より灌頂を受けた。元慶1(877)年,日本に帰国する途中暴風雨にあって船が難破し,溺死した。40年近くも唐で過ごした円載は,この間日本からの留学僧の世話をしたりしたが,破戒,悪行も多かったという。

(本郷真紹)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: False accusation

>>: Enza - Enza